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Pricing 2

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    #46
    RE: Pricing 2

    Was your store required by the government to put a price on the service as the Automotive industry is with a Monrony sticker??

    Dave
    Dave Mason
    [email protected]
    Skype is dave.mason46

    Comment


      #47
      RE: Pricing 2

      What's that got to to with the customer unless the government is setting a 'cap' on the price? Does the government require you to accept or service any and all customers?

      I work in a very strict federal and state controlled environment. There are no variables, everyone has a right to apply and it's required they be treated with the utmost respect. We have lots of 'cranky and demanding clients. We go very strictly by the rules and regs and tell the unhappy ones to contact thr state and/or the feds.

      Not sure you environment is that tight so you have more options than I have.

      kenn
      TYVM :) kenn

      Knowing what you can achieve will not become reality until you imagine and explore.

      Comment


        #48
        RE: Pricing 2

        Selwyn Rabins wrote:

        "the only difference between v5 and v6 is that the unlimited-user runtime is not sold on our web store, but is sold directly by our sales people who will quote a price that is fair to both alpha and the customer. "

        Could you explain how this works?

        Does this mean that if Developer "A" and Developer "B" want to purchase an unlimited runtime, A may get a better price than B? What factors will be considered in determining the "fair" price?

        Or is the "unlimited user" runtime aimed at "customers", that is, end users. If a developer creates an application for a customer who needs more than a 20-user runtime, does the customer, rather than the developer, purchase the runtime? In other words, is this runtime different from others in that it no longer allows a developer to purchase it one time and redistribute to an unlimited number of customers?

        Comment


          #49
          RE: Pricing 2

          Kenn,

          The government at times has set caps on car sales prices. We had 2 years of frozen prices in one stretch.

          What other industry has the total cost of their merchandise plastered all over the internet? The cost of operating a dealership is not advertised though.

          Note: we are careful with our advertising to get the most for our dollar. Last month it was over 50,000 = 282.00 per vehicle sold.

          We have to answer to federal, state, county and city regulations on many levels. We have a representative of one or the other in our Dealership every week for something.

          No, I am not as regulated as some places are.

          Yes I do have to answer to many people! - wife -kids -bill collectors -Owner

          Yes, I make ok money!

          I DO have to treat all the customers with respect and I SHOULD have to.

          You are probably on some type of salary? Hourly? I am soley commission! No sales - No money - No job!

          I wish everybody had to work in a car lot for a couple weeks. It would wake them up.

          You are welcome to swap jobs with me for a couple weeks if you want? We work 60 plus hours a week.

          Your friend.
          Dave
          Dave Mason
          [email protected]
          Skype is dave.mason46

          Comment


            #50
            RE: Pricing 2

            Marcel, Xbasic provides raw sockets functionality to you. From a technology standpoint, that and knowledge of the HTTP specification are all you need to write a web server for yourself which you could then price however you wished.

            -Lenny

            Lenny Forziati
            Vice President, Internet Products and Technical Services
            Alpha Software Corporation

            Comment


              #51
              RE: Pricing 2

              Well it took me a while, but I finally got to the crux of the bicuit in this thread. I'm a small-time independent developer with (so far) small needs.

              Marcel said:
              "In your example of the golf software it might even be the question whether web functionality is of that importance for such an application."

              WHAT IS a good solution for a database to be shared by a small number of users (4 or 5) spread across the US? They already have A5V5 full and runtime licenses, and they don't give a hoot whether the data comes from the internet or Santa Claus, as long as they can all share it.

              For the record, personally, I think the price of the WAS seems quite reasonable for what it delivers, but so far it's more than I (my clients) need. I've built LANs and Fibre-channel SANs, but this is new ground for me.

              Surely it's possible to share this database across the US without WAS, isn't it?

              cheers,
              Bob Emery

              Comment


                #52
                RE: Pricing 2

                Good question?

                I see that it has not been answered yet. Can someone shed some light on this?

                I am trying to make the decision to upgrade to v6 or make do. All of these comments about pricing makes me think that the fine folks at Alpha should have made their pricing intentions known, and more clearly stated.

                I love the work that I am doing in Alpha now, but if the unlimited user structure is gone, or will now be client based, I am not sure if the upgrade is worth it.

                Comment


                  #53
                  RE: Pricing 2

                  I've been waiting also. Until you posted your message, I just figured no one else was interested in the answer.

                  John

                  Comment


                    #54
                    RE: Pricing 2

                    All runtimes are still unlimited distribution. So a developer can still purchase a single copy and distribute it many times.

                    It is only the unlimted concurrent users that has changed. If you need more than the 20 user, you can contact Brett Johnston here at Alpha for more specific information on the runtime pricing. He will work with you to create a custom solution for your need based on the number of concurrent users you would like to support.

                    -Lenny

                    Lenny Forziati
                    Vice President, Internet Products and Technical Services
                    Alpha Software Corporation

                    Comment


                      #55
                      RE: Pricing 2

                      Lenny,

                      Thanks for your answer. I don't really like "secret" pricing or haggling over prices but if that is the way you want to market, it's your call.

                      John

                      Comment


                        #56
                        RE: Pricing 2

                        John, I don't know that the pricing is secret or requires haggling - I develop the software but I don't sell it. That is why I suggested contacting Brett, he can give you definitive answers.

                        -Lenny

                        Lenny Forziati
                        Vice President, Internet Products and Technical Services
                        Alpha Software Corporation

                        Comment


                          #57
                          RE: Pricing 2

                          John:

                          I am in agreement with you. From what I have read, I think we are not alone...at all.

                          Lenny:

                          I would think that the powers that be would see that this new pricing structure is causing major concerns with the developers that have been using Alpha products for a while. Not having your pricing spelled out on the website as it was in the past does raise concerns.

                          Maybe someone needs to rethink their decision on this matter. When an issue starts to create so much confusion, and discussion, maybe it need to be looked at.

                          I understand you are on the development side (good job btw), but you have access to the business side of the Alpha operation. We rely on voice too. Maybe you understand and completely agree with the new pricing. Not sure...

                          Thank you for your response.

                          Mike

                          Comment


                            #58
                            RE: Pricing 2

                            Unlimited Runtime Clarification:

                            I hope to be able to clarify some issues on Alpha�s runtime pricing for its custom runtimes.

                            What we have done is simply created more runtime options. We have kept our standard 3/5/10 and 20 user runtimes, which are far and away our most common runtimes used, but have now given the option to create a custom runtime over and above 20. This was based on feed back from consultants in the past who have questioned why there is nothing in between a 20 and an unlimited user runtime. We are in no way doing �secret� pricing as previously suggested, there is in fact is a schedule for runtime counts above 20 but for simplicity they are not all listed because we did not want to complicate the ordering options on the web site. Anyone wanting this schedule can email me at [email protected] and I will be happy to send it out to them.

                            The runtime is still an unlimited distribution runtime, so you are still able to distribute your applications to an unlimited number of users/sites.

                            Please feel free to call or e-mail me directly and I will be happy to address this with you.

                            The Bottom line is that version 6 offers many advantages that can enable you to build better applications and we want to work with you to accommodate your specific requirements.

                            Brett Johnson
                            (781)229-4500 Ext 11

                            Comment


                              #59
                              RE: Pricing 2

                              Lenny and Brett Johnson have answered my questions and I thank them for their responses.

                              I withdraw my comment about "secret pricing". If there is a schedule for unlimited runtimes over 20 and it will be emailed to anyone who requests it, the pricing is certainly not secret. If a developer thinks he might one day need an over-20 concurrent user runtime, he will have some idea of what his costs will be and can weigh that as a factor in his decision to purchase or not purchase Version 6.

                              John

                              Comment


                                #60
                                RE: Pricing 2

                                As Brett and Alpha have certainly worked with me on issues like this in the past, I almost hate to say that I think there is still a problem with not having a reasonably priced (certainly no more than $1,299!) unlimited (concurrent users) runtime, as there was with v5.

                                Whether it is the deveolper or a developer's client or new prospect, it was phychologically a big selling point with v5 applications to be able to say something like "go with this runtime app option and you don't ever have to worry about hitting a ceiling on concurrent users and thereby having to pony up more money." Not that many of my clients ever go over 20 concurent users (though one certainly did for about a year). Reality is not the point. For me it has been a significant a selling point to be able to say, "go with me and you can have hundreds of concurrent users for all I care." God forbid they ever had hundreds, but again, that's not the point. Maybe there is some good rationale for the switch in the way runtimes are priced, but I certainly doubt that it is going to benefit anyone.

                                Ray Lyons

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